Tower unit for concrete mixers and the like



May J. D. FAFZRELL 2,319,807

' Filed May 5, 1941 5 Sheets-Shee t l y 5, 19 3- J. D. FARRELL 2,319,807

TOWER UNIT FOR CONCRETE MIXERS AND THE LIKE Filed May 5, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 1 a 1 ATTORNEY May 25, 1943. I p. FARRELL TOWER UNIT FOR GONCRETEMIXERS AND THE LIKE ATTORNEYS y 1943- J. D. FARRELL 2,319,807

TOWER UNIT FOii CONCRETE MIXERS AND THE LIKE I Filed May 5, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 %4 a8 JNVENTQR TTORNEYS a May 25, 1943. J. D. FARRELL TOWER UNIT FO CONCRETE MIXERS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 5, 1941 INVENTOR W BY v Mam Patented May 25, 1943 TOWVER UNIT FOR CONCRETE MIXERS AND THE LIKE John D. Farrell, Nunda. N. Y., assignor to The Foote Company, Inc., Nunda, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application May 5, 1941, Serial No. 391,868

4 Claims.

This invention relates to tower equipment and more particularly to a tower unit for use with a concrete mixer to elevate the concrete from the mixer for delivery over a considerable area.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a mobile tower unit which can be connected to a standard type of concrete mixer and which can be readily moved by the selfpropulsion of the concrete mixer.

Another object is to provide such a tower unit for use with such a concrete mixer which can be readily and securely connected to the mixer without necessitating substantial modification in the construction of the mixer. The only substantial modification of the mixer required to adapt it for use with the tower unit embodying the present invention is the removal of the conventional boom and bucket employed in mixers of this type.

Another object is to provide such a tower unit in which the tower is mounted on an independent mobile carriage which can be connected to the frame of the mixer so as to permit the mixer and tower to be readily moved on the jobthereby eliminating considerable labor and delay when it -is.desired to move the mixer and tower to another location.

Another object is to provide such a tower unit the construction of which permits the tower to be closely positioned to the concrete mixer to provide a compact unitary concrete mixing and elevating apparatus.

Another purpose is to provide such a tower unit in which the main section of the tower is pivoted on the mobile supporting carriage for hoisting and lowering it by means of the power of the concrete mixer.

Another aim is to provide such a tower unit in which the main tower section can be tipped down onto a trailer and the main tower section swivelly coupled to its supporting carriage so that the main tower section can be trailed behind the concrete mixer andtransported from one job to another.

Another object is to provide such a tower unit in which the supporting carriage carries the hoisting mechanism for raising and lowering the elevator bucket, the power for operating said mechanism being derived from the prime mover on the mixer through a simpe and detachable mechanical connection with the prime mover.

Another object is to provide such a tower unit in which the elevator bucket, when being loaded with concrete from the mixer, is arranged immediately adjacent the discharge chute of the mixer drum and when being elevated the bucket first travels upwardly and forwardly along the track provided in the lower section of the tower so as to avoid the upper frame members or the mixer frame.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed descriptionv and drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a concrete mixer equipped with a tower unit embodying the present invention, the tower being shown in a partially hoisted condition.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, vertical, longitudinal, fragmentary section through the lower section of the tower unit.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal, fragmentary section taken generally along line 33, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical, longitudinal, fragmentary section taken generally along line 4-4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5is,a side elvation of a concrete mixer equipped with a tower unit embodying a modified form of the present invention and showing the main tower section being adapted to be lowered onto a trailer thereby permitting the tower to be trailed by the paver.

In its general organization the present invention is shown as being embodied in a tower l0 mounted on a mobile carriage l2 which is removably secured to the frame of a concrete mixer l4 of the type commonly used in paving roads. In order to adapt this type of concrete mixer for use in conjunction with the tower unit the conventional boom and bucket (not shown) are removed. In general the mixer l4 shown in Fig. 1 includes a frame having upper and lower spaced longitudinal frame members'l5, I5 and Hi, It, respectively, with suitable vertical and transverse frame members connecting the same. A-traction mechanism including crawler belts ll serves to propel the mixer as desired. .A skip I8 is pivotally secured to the rear of the mixer frame and after being suitably loaded with dry cement and aggregate is raised by the power mechanism of the mixer and discharges its load into a mixer drum I9 wherein water is added and the ingredients of the concrete are mixed following which the concrete is discharged from this drum through a discharge chute 20.

The mobile tower supporting carriage I2 is shown as including a pair of spaced longitudinal side frame members 25 suitably connected by cross channels 26, the members 25 being arranged on the outside of themixer, as best shown in Fig. 3. Each end of each longitudinal side frame member 25 is suitably supported on a caster Wheel El so that the carriage is rendered mobile and can be moved along with and propelled by the concrete mixer M.

An important feature of the present invention is the splitting of the tower it) along a diagonal line near the lower end of the same, thereby dividing the tower into a lower fixed tower section 3| which is rigidly mounted on the carriage l2 and a main tower section 32 which is pivotally mounted on the carriage. The lower tower section 3| is shown as including spaced uprights 33 suitably connected to intermediate longitudinal frame members 34 which are suitably connected to the cross channels 26. Spaced diagonal angle bars 35 are suitably connected to the upper ends of the uprights 33 and to the carriage frame members 34. Suitable brace members 36 are secured to the uprights and the diagonal bars 35 to ren-- der the lower tower section rigid in construction.

Means are provided for securely yet removably coupling the carriage i2 which carries the lower tower section 3| to the frame of the mixer I4. For this purpose a horizontal transverse anchorin channel 40 is rigidly secured to the frame of the mixer and is provided with a pair of spaced forwardly extending anchoring ears 4| adjacent each end of the anchoring channel 40. A bracket 42 is suitably secured to the uprights 33 of the lower tower section and carries a pair of spaced rearwardly extending ears 43 each of which is adapted to interfit with the corresponding pair of ears 4|, as best shown in Fig. 3. An anchoring bolt or pin 44 passes through openings in each set of ears and thereby anchors the lower part of the lower tower section 3| to the mixer frame. K

In order to secure the upper part of this lower tower section to the mixer frame an angle bracket 45 is suitably secured to each of the uprights 33 of the lower tower section adjacent its upper end, each of these angle brackets being adapted to engage with the upper side of the corresponding upper longitudinal mixer frame member I5 and carrying a vertical pin or bolt 46 which securely fastens these parts together, as best shown in Fig. 2. Thus it will be seen that no substantial modification of the mixer frame is required in order to equip such a mixer with the tower unit forming the subject. of the present invention and it will be particularly noted that the top mixer frame members |5 which project out at the boom end of the mixer do not have tobe cut off.

The main tower section 32 is pivotally mounted at its lower end on the supporting carriage l2 adjacent the lower end of the diagonal angle bars 35. The main tower section is rectangular in construction and includes four corner columns 53 which are suitably braced to form a rigid tower construction by auxiliary brace bars 5|. The

tower section can be hoisted from a horizontal position to an upright vertical position by virtue of the pivotal mounting of the main tower section on the supporting carriage I2, the position of the tower shown in Fig. 1 being an intermediate position of the tower assumed during the hoisting of the same. When the tower has been hoisted to its upright vertical position shown in Fig. 2 it will be noted that the opposing faces of the corresponding pairs of diagonal angle bars 52 and 35 of the main tower section 32 and the lower fixed tower section 3|, respectively, engage with each other and can be securely connected together by bolts 51 to provide a structurally strong tower construction Suitable guy wires 58 can be employed to steady the upright tower and prevent swaying of the same.

Each of the opposite lateral sides of the tower is provided with a track 30 formed by spaced track guide rails 3|. The track 60 starts at the base of the tower at a point in rear of the vertical median line of the tower and extends upwardly and forwardly to a point approximately horizontally in line with the upper longitudinal mixer frame members I5 and thence directly upwardly medially of the tower the full height thereof. An elevator bucket 62 of any suitable form adapted to contain a quantity of concrete is shown as arranged for travel up and down the track 60 and for this purpose the bucket is provided with ,a yoke 63 having laterally extending rollers 64 which are adapted to ride between the rails of the track. In the position'of the elevator bucket shown in Fig. 2 the bucket is shown as bein arranged immediately adjacent the mixer discharge chute 20 to receive the concrete discharged thereby. this chute 20 being rotatably mounted on the mixer so that this discharge chute can cut off the discharge of concrete by being rotated coaxially of the drum to an inoperative position. A tiltable auxiliary chute 65 is pivotally mounted on a, bracket 36 mounted on the lower tower section 3|. This auxiliary chute is inclined in the position shown in Fig. 2 in which position it serves to direct the concrete mix being discharged from the mixer drum l9 into the bucket. When the bucket is filled with concrete the discharge chute 20 is rotated to the inoperative position shown by full lines in Figs. 1 and 2 and as the bucket starts to lift, the upper end of the bucket strikes the auxiliary chute 65 and tilts the same to an inoperative position. The bucket is then elevated along the track 69 to the desired height where it is caused to tip by suitpair of corner columns adjacent the mixer l4 are shorter in length than the two front corner columns, as best shown in Fig. 1. and diagonal angle bars 52 connect the lower ends of .these shorter corner columns with the lower ends of the longer corner columns at each side of the tower. For the purpose of pivotally mounting the lower end of the maintower section 32 on the supporting carriage l2 each intermediate longitudinal frame member 35 is shown as being provided with a frame bearing bracket 53 suitably secured thereto and a companion tower bearing bracket 54 is rigidly secured to the lower end of the corresponding longer tower corner column 50, a horizontal pivot pin or bolt connecting each pair of companion frame and tower bearin brackets. It will therefore be seen that the main able tripping mechanism (not shown) and thereby discharge its load of concrete into a hopper- 6'1 suitably mounted 0n the forward side of the tower, as shown in Fig. 1. The concrete can be distributed from the hopper 61 to any desired point by means of a distributing chute (not shown). After the bucket is so emptied it is permitted to descend to receive another load of concrete. As the bucket passes the auxiliary chute in its downward travel it strikes this chute and returns it to its operative position shown in Fig. 2. The mixer discharge chute 20 can then be rotated to its operative position shown by dotted lines in Fig.2 and concrete is thereby discharged from the drum I9 into the elevator bucket 62, as previously described.

Means operating through power derived from the prime mover (not shown) of the concrete mixer areprovided for raising and lowering. the bucket 62 and for hoisting and lowering. the main tower section 32'. For this purpose a power shaft I driven by the prime mover extends forwardly through an opening in the front wall II of the mixer, as best shown in Fig. 4. A double universal joint shaft 12 is connected directly to the end of this power shaft "I0 at the discharge end of the mixer. This universal joint shaft drives a short jack shaft 13 journaled in spaced bearings 14 each of which is mounted on a supporting channel 15 suitably carried on the tower carriage I2. A chain drive I6 on the jack shaft I3 drives a clutch drum I1 mounted for free rotation on a main hoist clutch shaft I8, the opposite ends of which are journaled in bearings I9 each of which is also mounted on a supporting channel -suitably carried on the tower carriage I2. A clutch jaw 8| is adapted to engage with the clutch drum TI and for this purpose a sliding clutch collar 82 splined to the shaft I8 is connected to the clutch jaw by pivoted arms 83, the collar 82 being operated by a clutch yoke 84 pivotally mounted on a bearing bracket 85 and a clutch operating hand lever 86. A cable hoist drum 8! is mounted on the main hoist clutch shaft 18 so as to rotate therewith and the drum has wound thereon a cable 88. A brake is also provided on the main hoist clutch shaft 18 for braking the unwinding of the cable 88 from around the cable drum 8'! as, for instance, when braking the descent of the bucket 62, and this brake is shown as including a brake drum 9|, a brake band 92 secured at one end of the tower carriage frame I2 in any suitable manner, and at its opposite end to a rock arm 93 which is fast to a rock shaft 94 journaled at its opposite ends in bearings provided on the carriage frame. To operate the brake 90, a brake hand lever 95 pivotally mounted in apivot bearing bracket 96 secured to the carriage frame member 25, as shown in Fig. 3, is connected at its lower end by a link 91 to a rock arm 98 fast to and depending from the rock shaft 94, the link 91 passing through an opening 99 provided in the side frame member 25 of the tower carriage.

The same hoist drum Bland its associated H mechanism and cable 88 that is used for raising and lowering the bucket 62 in the tower is also used-for raising and lowering the tower itself but the cable has to be strung up differently for the latter operation, For hoisting the tower from a horizontal position to -a vertical position the cable goes directly from the hoist drum 8'! over a pulley I02 arranged above this drum and which pulley I02 is carried on the outer end of a horizontal beam I03 which extends angularly out from the mixer I4 and is suitably secured to the frame of the mixer. From the pulley -I02 the cable 88 passes around a pulley I04 at the skip end of the mixer frame, thence around a pulley I05 carried by the upper end of the tower, thence around another pulley I06 arranged on the mixer frame and the end of the cable is secured to the tower adjacent the upper end thereof; as shown in Fig. 1. It will therefore be seen that as the cable 88 is found upon the hoist drum 81 by the hoist mechanism and is thereby caused to be drawn around the pulleys I02, I04, I05 and I06 the tower will be hoisted to a vertical upright position.

When the cable 88 is strung so as to raise and lower the bucket the cable goes directly from the hoist drum 81 upwardly on the outside of the tower and passes around suitable pulleys (not shown) arranged on top of the tower and then down the inside of the tower and is connected to the yoke 63 of the bucket 62.

The provision of the caster wheels 21 at the four corners of the tower supporting carriage I2 permits these wheels to be turned and held in any one of several positions. A plurality of vertical jack screws I01 are arranged on the carriage "frame I2 near the four corners of the tower and can be set down on blocking I00 to provide a stable support for the tower when it is in operation. With the jacks raised and the blocks I08 removed the tower on its mobile carriage I2 and the mixer I4 coupled therewith can be moved as a unitary structure.

In order to render the tower unit embodying the invention more mobile and thereby facilitate the transportation of the mixer together with the tower unit coupled thereto from one job to another, the tower can be lowered onto a wheeled trailer; Such a construction is more or less diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 5. As illustrated in Fig. 5 the main tower section in its upright or operative position is represented by dotted lines and since the concrete mixer and tower unit are similar in construction to that illustrated and described in Figs. 1-4, the same reference numerals have been applied to indicate identical parts. The main tower section 32 can be tipped down or lowered by the cable 88 and associated mechanism through control of the power driven means in the same manner as in the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1-4. The main tower section 32 is thus lowered onto 'a wheeled trailer H0. The trailer can be of any suitable construction. After the main tower section 32 has been lowered onto the trailer H0 and is supported thereby the lower end of this tower section is disconnected from the frame bearing brackets 53 by removing the horizontal pivot pins 55 and the tower section is backed off a short distance. The lower end of the tower section is then swivellyconnected to the carriage I2 in any suitable manner so as to be coupled to the carriage and capable of swivelly moving about a vertical axis. It will therefore be seen that the main towersection 32 can be trailed along behind the mixer when the apparatus is being transported from one location to another.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the presentinvention provides a mobile tower unit which can be coupledin a rapid and simple manner to a standard road paving concrete mixer after first dissassembling its boom and bucket and does not require further substantial modification of the mixer in order to adapt it for use with the tower unit. The combined mixer and tower unit has the further advantage of being mobile and can be readily moved from one location to another on the construction job. The

pivotal mounting of the main tower section on the mobile carriage for the tower also facilitates transorting the tower unit.

It will also be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular form of construction which has been shown and described for. purposes of explanation and illustration but that the construction shown can be varied widely within the scope of v the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a mobile concrete mixer having a frame movably supported by wheeled means, an open ended mixing drum on said frame rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis extending longitudinally of said frame, a skip at the rear end of said frame for elevating and discharging the aggregate and vcement into the adjacent end of said drum, means in the opposite end of said drum for discharging the mixed concrete therefrom, said discharging means :being arranged at the front end of said, mixer and the greater part of said discharging means, being arranged within the framework of said mixer and a prime mover supported by said frame. and operatively connected to propel the mixer and actuate said skip and mixing drum; a tower unit for delivering concrete. at an elevated station,

comprising a carriage. independent of said mixer and movably supported by wheeled means, a vertical tower mounted on said. carriage injuxtaposition to the front concrete. discharge end of said mixer, means for coupling said carriage to said mixer frame, an elevator bucket arranged, in said tower and adapted to receive a load of concrete from said discharging means, a track arranged verticaliy in said tower along the opposite sides thereof and guiding the travel of said bucket vertically in said tower, said track immediately adjacent said discharging means of said mixer being arranged in rear of the vertical medial line of said tower thereby to bring the bucket rearwardiy into a position under, the extremity of said discharging means to receive concrete therefrom and said track thence continuing upwardly and forwardly a certain distance to carry the rising bucket toward the center of said tower following the filling thereof and, said track, thence continuing upwardly and substantially parallel with said tower, and means for raising and lowering said bucket along said track.

2. In combination with a mobile concrete mixer having a frame including generally horizontal upper longitudinal frame members projecting forwardly from said mixer and said frame being movably supported on wheeled means, an open ended mixing drum on said frame rotated about a substantially horizontal axis extending longitudinally of said frame, a skip at the rear end of said frame for elevating and discharging the aggregate and cement into the adjacent endof said drum, means in the opposite end of said drum for discharging the mixed concrete therefrom, said discharging means being arranged at the front end of said mixer and the greater part of said discharging means being arranged within the framework of said mixer and a prime mover supported by said frame and operatively connected to propel the mixer and actuate said skip and mixingdrum; a tower unit for delivering concrete at an elevated station, comprising a carriage independent of said mixer and movably supported by wheeled means, a vertical tower mounted on said carriage in juxtaposition to the front concrete discharge end of said mixer, means-for coupling said carriage to said mixer frame, an elevator bucket arranged in said tower and adapted to receive a load of concrete from said discharging means, a track arranged vertically in said tower along the opposite sides thereof and guiding the travel of said bucket vertically in said tower, said track immediately adjacent said discharging means of said mixer being arranged in rear of the vertical medial line of said tower thereby to bring the bucket into a position under the extremity of said discharging means to receive concrete therefrom and said track thence continuing upwardly and forwardly to a point approximately horizontally in line with said frame members to carry the rising bucket toward the center of said tower following the filling thereof and said track thence continuing'upwardly and substantially parallel with said tower, and means for raising and lowering said bucket along, said track.

3. Inv combination with a mobile concrete mixer having a frame, a pair of crawlers at opposite sides of and movably supporting said frame, am open ended mixing drum on said frame rotatable. about a substantially horizontal axis extending longitudinally of said frame, a skip at. the rear end of said frame for elevating and discharging, the aggregate and cement into the adjacent end of said drum, means in the opposite; end of said, drum for discharging the mixed concrete therefrom, and a prime mover supported by said frame and operatively connected to propel the mixer and actuate said skip and mixing drum; a tower unit for delivering concrete at an elevated station, comprising an independent mobile carriage including a pair of spaced longitudinal side frame members which straddle said mixer and are arranged alongside of said crawlers and a supporting Wheel arranged at eachend of each of said side frame members, a vertical tower mounted on said carriage in juxtaposition to the front discharge end of said mixer, means for detac-hably coupling said carriage to said mixer frame. an elevator bucket arranged in said tower and adapted to receive a load of concrete from said discharging means, and means for raising and lowering. said bucket in said tower, said mixer and coupled tower unit being adapted to be propelled together by said mixer.

4. In combination with a mobile concrete mixer having a frame movably supported by wheeled means, an open ended mixing drum on said frame rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis extending longitudinally of said frame, a skip at the rear end of said frame and elevating; and discharging the aggregate and cement into the adjacent end of said drum, means in the opposite end of said drum for discharging the mixed concrete therefrom and a prime mover supported by said frame and operatively' connected to propel the mixer and actuate said skip and mixing; drum; a tower unit for delivering concrete at an elevated station comprising a carriage independent of said mixer and movably supported by wheeled means, a tower pivotally mounted on said carriage in juxtaposition to the front discharge end of said mixer, means for coupling said carriage to said mixer frame, an elevator bucket arranged in said tower and adapted toreceive a load of concrete. from said discharging means, means for raising and lowering said bucket in said tower, said mixer and coupled tower unit being adapted, to be propelled together by said mixer and hoisting means for hoisting and lowering said tower, comprising a first pulley arranged on the top of said mixer frame, a second pulley arranged, on the upper part of said tower, a third pulley arranged on the top of said mixer frame, a, hoist cable drum arranged on said carriage, a fourth pulley carried by said mixer frame and arranged above said drum, a hoist cable adapted to be wound on said drum, said cable being secured at one end to the upper part of said tower and thence successively passing said first, second, third and fourth pulleys and thence around said drum, and means arranged on said carriage for rotating said drum through power derived from said prime mover.

JOHN D. FARRELL, 

